Hamilton’s girls basketball team had reached the finals of the Little Falls Tournament on Dec. 29, only to lose that title game to the undefeated Mounties.
Six days later, the Emerald Knights returned to Center State Conference competition and needed double overtime to fight past Otselic Valley, 52-49.
Neither side could muster much offense in the first half, and Hamilton trailed 17-14 at the break. Even when it went ahead, the Knights could not hold that margin, and regulation ended with the teams tied, 41-41.
Through one overtime period, nothing was settled, at 46-46. The Knights then inched ahead in the second OT period, then used Ashley Britton’s pair of free throws to get some breathing space.
Once again, Liz Unger was responsible for much of the offense, finishing with 23 points, but she got some help as Erin Haswell earned nine points, Britton got seven points and Calyn Fisher had six points. Amber Wood paced Otselic with 12 points.
Things were much easier in Saturday’s game against Stockbridge Valley, where the Emerald Knights roared to a 52-29 win.
Over the course of the first three periods, Hamilton built a 43-16 lead. Unger, with 20 points, continued to stay hot as Fisher improved to 11 points. Britton got seven points and Haswell added six points.
Without much rest, Hamilton (8-3) hosts Westmoreland on Monday before a Thursday trip to Oriskany.
